The Gr 2 TAB Gauteng Guineas winner and Gr 1 HKJC World Pool SA Classic third-placed Splittheeights has been scratched from the Hollywoodbets Durban July (JC Photos)
There were no fewer than 19 scratchings from the Hollywoodbets Durban July at the first declaration stage on Monday (May 11).
The biggest shock scratching was the Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained Splittheeights, who won the Gr 2 TAB Gauteng Guineas and was an eycatching running-on third in the Gr 1 TAB SA Classic. He was set to carry bottom weight of 52kg in the July as things stood, which put him in with a strong chance.
The other two most notable scratchings were two females, the Candice Bass-trained Rainbow Lorikeet and the James Crawford-trained Reet Petite, although this might simply be due to their being the Gr 1 Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes on the same day as the July.
The scratched horses were:
Texas Missile, Alec Laird
Bakwena,J A Janse van Vuuren
Greeting My Master, Alec Laird
The Equator (IRE), Stuart Pettigrew
Count Of Rouen, Peter Muscutt
Master Redoute, Andre Nel
Rose Woott (AUS), Andre Nel
Salani Kahle, Gareth van Zyl
Rule By Force, Joe Soma
Indian Ocean, Mano Pandaram
Thunee Playa, Mano Pandaram
Porridge Boy, Mano Pandaram
Johnny The Thief, M J Odendaal
Reet Petite, James Crawford
Errol Flynn, Joe Soma
Ladyofdistinction, Michael Roberts
Rainbow Lorikeet, Candice Bass
Splittheeights, Mike / Mathew de Kock
Great Plains, Justin Snaith
The betting with the sponsor on the 44 remaining runners is (win and place (first four) :
